Cloze Exercise

The Civil War

The Russian Civil War was not just Reds vs Whites but a series of conflicts incl: Bolsheviks vs political opponents; nationalist separatist movements; peasant revolts vs Prodrazverstka; foreign invasions; war w. Japan; Czech POW revolt.

Causes of the Civil War

1. Opponents of the Bolsheviks

Bolsheviks seized power by coup (1917). Opponents united:

• Tsarists (restore monarchy),

• ex-army officers (angry re Treaty of Brest-Litovsk),

• landlords (lost land),

• Social Revolutionaries (ejected from Assembly),

• Mensheviks,

• peasants (rebelling against the Prodrazverstka).

2. Nationalist rebellions

• Finland (Dec 1917) – nationalist govt declared independence under Pehr . Finnish communists rebelled (Jan 1918) but were defeated (May 1918) w. German help.

• republic (Caucasus) declared independence (May 1918), occupied by Bolsheviks (1921).

• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland → supported Whites, gained independence (Versailles 1919), defeated Bolsheviks.

• Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia sought independence (1920), defeated by 1921.

• Ukraine – anarchists (Nestor ) initially allied w. Bolsheviks, but war 1920-21 after Whites defeated, terrorist attacks until 1924.

3. Entente

Russia’s Entente allies (Britain, France, USA) joined war – they feared 'world revolution' & the Bolsheviks had seizing assets lent to the Tsar.

• British (60k troops) fought in Archangel/Siberia/Caucasus, armed Denikin, but Whites mutinied/deserted.

• USA sent 11k troops ( Expedition) to North Russia & Vladivostok.

• Other foreign forces sent small numbers: French (South Russia), Romanians (Bessarabia), Greeks (Crimea), Italians (Archangel), Canadians (5k, Siberia).

• By 1919, all had withdrawn.

4. Japanese invasion

Japan sent 70k troops (1918), occupied Pacific ports, advanced to Lake Baikal.

• Stayed after Allies left (1920), suspected of annexation plans – 50k Japanese settlers arrived (companies such as set up offices there).

• US diplomatic pressure → Japan withdrew (1922), made peace (1925).

5. Czech Legion

• 50k Czech POWs mutinied (1918), formed , seized Trans-Siberian Railway, attacked Moscow.

Events of the Civil War, 1918-22

• White armies attacked from east & west:

◦ (1918) took Caucasus, attacked Moscow (1919), stopped by Bolshevik-Makhno alliance, resigned (1920).

◦ (Siberia) declared 'Supreme Leader', advanced (1919) but halted at Urals, executed (1920).

◦ (Oct 1919) attacked Petrograd, failed to take railway → Bolsheviks reinforced, saved city.

◦ (Crimea) defeated (1920), fled to Serbia, set up White govt-in-exile.

• Tsar & family executed (July 1918).

• British, US, French left (1919), Japanese (1922).

• Civil War → famine, disease, millions died, atrocities.

• Bolsheviks invaded Poland (1921), defeated.

• USSR declared (1922).

Why The Bolsheviks Won The War

1. Whites' Disunity

• Whites were divided, geographically spread out, lacked coordination → Trotsky defeated them one by one.

2. Trotsky

• Brilliant strategist, ensured Red Army had effective tactics.

3. Belief

• Reds = and enthusiastic Communists fighting for a 'better world'.

• Anti-foreign intervention feeling → support for Bolsheviks.

4. War Communism

• ‘War Communism’ = nationalised factories, military discipline, banned strikes, rationed food, forced peasant grain requisition → supplied Red Army.

5. Terror

• Cheka executed 7k+ Whites.

• Red Army generals' families taken hostage → loyalty ensured.

6. Wherewithal

• Bolsheviks controlled Moscow/Petrograd (factories), railways (vital), had 300k troops, strict discipline, of communication → strategic advantage.

Causes of the Civil War

1. Opponents of the Bolsheviks

Bolsheviks seized power by coup (1917). Opponents united:

• Tsarists (restore monarchy),

• ex-army officers (angry re Treaty of Brest-Litovsk),

• landlords (lost land),

• Social Revolutionaries (ejected from Assembly),

• Mensheviks,

• peasants (rebelling against the Prodrazverstka).

2. Nationalist rebellions

• Finland (Dec 1917) – nationalist govt declared independence under Pehr SVINHUFVUD. Finnish communists rebelled (Jan 1918) but were defeated (May 1918) w. German help.

• MOUNTAIN republic (Caucasus) declared independence (May 1918), occupied by Bolsheviks (1921).

• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland → supported Whites, gained independence (Versailles 1919), defeated Bolsheviks.

• Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia sought independence (1920), defeated by 1921.

• Ukraine – anarchists (Nestor MAKHNO) initially allied w. Bolsheviks, but war 1920-21 after Whites defeated, terrorist attacks until 1924.

3. Entente

Russia’s Entente allies (Britain, France, USA) joined war – they feared 'world revolution' & the Bolsheviks had seizing assets lent to the Tsar.

• British (60k troops) fought in Archangel/Siberia/Caucasus, armed Denikin, but Whites mutinied/deserted.

• USA sent 11k troops (POLAR BEAR Expedition) to North Russia & Vladivostok.

• Other foreign forces sent small numbers: French (South Russia), Romanians (Bessarabia), Greeks (Crimea), Italians (Archangel), Canadians (5k, Siberia).

• By 1919, all had withdrawn.

4. Japanese invasion

Japan sent 70k troops (1918), occupied Pacific ports, advanced to Lake Baikal.

• Stayed after Allies left (1920), suspected of annexation plans – 50k Japanese settlers arrived (companies such as MITSUBISHI set up offices there).

• US diplomatic pressure → Japan withdrew (1922), made peace (1925).

5. Czech Legion

• 50k Czech POWs mutinied (1918), formed CZECH LEGION, seized Trans-Siberian Railway, attacked Moscow.

Events of the Civil War, 1918-22

• White armies attacked from east & west:

◦ DENIKIN (1918) took Caucasus, attacked Moscow (1919), stopped by Bolshevik-Makhno alliance, resigned (1920).

◦ KOLCHAK (Siberia) declared 'Supreme Leader', advanced (1919) but halted at Urals, executed (1920).

◦ YUDENICH (Oct 1919) attacked Petrograd, failed to take railway → Bolsheviks reinforced, saved city.

◦ WRANGEL (Crimea) defeated (1920), fled to Serbia, set up White govt-in-exile.

• Tsar & family executed (July 1918).

• British, US, French left (1919), Japanese (1922).

• Civil War → famine, disease, millions died, atrocities.

• Bolsheviks invaded Poland (1921), defeated.

• USSR declared (1922).

Why The Bolsheviks Won The War

1. Whites' Disunity

• Whites were divided, geographically spread out, lacked coordination → Trotsky defeated them one by one.

2. Trotsky

• Brilliant strategist, ensured Red Army had effective tactics.

3. Belief

• Reds = FERVENT and enthusiastic Communists fighting for a 'better world'.

• Anti-foreign intervention feeling → support for Bolsheviks.

4. War Communism

• ‘War Communism’ = nationalised factories, military discipline, banned strikes, rationed food, forced peasant grain requisition → supplied Red Army.

5. Terror

• Cheka executed 7k+ Whites.

• Red Army generals' families taken hostage → loyalty ensured.

6. Wherewithal

• Bolsheviks controlled Moscow/Petrograd (factories), railways (vital), had 300k troops, strict discipline, INTERNAL LINES of communication → strategic advantage.